Eight top 10s from New York City’s 2016 test scores

The percentage of New York City students passing their state English tests spiked nearly eight points this year and math pass rates also improved, giving city officials reason to celebrate. It’s worth noting, however, that the average proficiency scores on both exams still hovered below 40 percent.

In the lists below, we take a closer look at which schools are at the top or bottom of city rankings when it comes to proficiency on the two tests. We also break out which schools have seen the largest changes in performance (both positive and negative) since last year, measured by the percent change in their average scaled score.

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Biggest positive change in math scale scores (not proficiency):

P.S. 5 Dr. Ronald McNair (+14.7%)

M.S. 267 Math, Science & Technology (+8.9%)

P.S. 191 Paul Robeson (+8.4%)

Imagine Me Leadership Charter School (+8.2%)

Bronx Charter School for Children (+8.0%)

Staten Island Community Charter School (+7.2%)

P.S. 64 Pura Belpré (+6.2%)

South Bronx Charter School for International Culture and the Arts (+6.1%)

P.S. 15 Patrick F. Daly (+6.0%)

American Dream Charter School (+6.0%)

Once again, P.S. 5 Dr. Ronald McNair tops the list of most improved schools, despite the fact that its numbers have dwindled. In 2015, Chalkbeat wrote that test scores at some charter schools, including Imagine Me Leadership Charter School, may benefit from the departure of lower performing students, who often return to district schools in the middle of the year. Another school on this list, P.S. 64 Pura Belpré, is being phased out.